Brake



B. E. HOUSE May 2, 1950 BRAKE Filed Dec. 2, 1944 5 She'ets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY B. E. HOUSE May 2, 1950 BRAKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1944 l/VV'A/TOR BY fiPm/v 5 #0055 ATTORNA'Y B. E. HOUSE May 2, 1950 BRAKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 2, 1944 M/VE/VTO/P BRYAN 5 H0054- A TTOP/Vf) BY W B. E. HOUSE May 2, 1950 BRAKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 2, 1944 mviwro: m t. #00545 ayfl ATTOIPIVE) Patented May 2, 1950 BRAKE Bryan E. House, South Bend, Ind., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation,v South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application December 2, 1944, Serial No. 566,274

10 Claims. (Cl. 188-78) This invention relates to brakes, and more particularly to the construction and arrangement of the applying means and the torque reaction means which constitute parts of each brake assembly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simplified brake construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a brake structure in which the anchoring and applying forces have no tendency to cause deflection or distortion of the brake support or torque reaction member.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a brake construction which can be adapted to several types of brake operation with a minimum change in parts.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a brake assembly, showing the structure arranged according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2';

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are sections taken on the lines 4-4, 5-5 and fi-t, respectively, of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a front elevation showing a brake assembly having certain features in common with that of Figure 1, but having a fundamentally different arrangement of the brake shoes insofar as application and anchoring thereof is concerned;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are sections taken on the lines 8-8, 9-53 and iii-l6, respectively, of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a partial front elevation showing a brake'arrangement similar to that of Figure 7, except that the brakes used are mechanically actuated rather than hydraulically actuated;

Figures 12 and 13 are sections taken on the lines 12-42 and iii-i3, respectively, of Figure 11; e

Figure 14 is a front elevation showing a mechanically actuated brake of a type difierent from any of the preceding figures, but having certain common parts;

Figure 15 is a vertical elevation showing a brake which is similar to that of Figure 1, except that mechanical actuation takes the place of hydraulic actuation; and

Figures 16 and 17 are sections taken on the 5g lines [6-46 and ll-ll, respectively; of Figure 15.

Referring to Figures 1 to- 6 inclusive, a support or torque reaction member 12 .is provided with a plurality of openings l4, through which bolts or other suitable fastenings may extend to secure the member 52 to a fixed part of the ve- .hicle or other structure with which the brake is associated. The torque reaction member I2 is preferably a relatively flat, plate-like member. Extending outwardly from the peripheral portion of torque reaction member l2 and located at diametrically opposite points in the brake assembly are two anchor projections l6 and I8 which are adapted to take the anchoring torque of shoes illand 22. In the arrangement of Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, the shoes 20 and 22, which are preferably conventionally T-shaped in cross section, are individually shiftable to anchor at either end depending upon the direction of rotation of drum 24 at the time the shoes aremoved into contact with said drum. Torque reaction member I2 is also provided with a plurality of outwardly exranged in pairs, one member of which extendson one side of the shoe web, and the other memberof which extends on the other side of the shoe web. The shoes are normally retained in released position, in which they contact the anchors l6 and I8, by means of a pair of short return springs 28 and a longer return spring 38 connected between the shoes. In order to enclose the brake assembly, and thereby prevent excessive dirt from entering, a cover plate 32 may be provided, and may be secured to flange 35 of nonrotating member 36 by means of the. same fastenings 38 which secure torque reaction member I2 to the fixed flange 3 3 (see Figure 4) Normal or service brake application is accomplished by means of two cup shaped hydraulic cylinders 40 which are located at diametrically opposite points in the brake assembly, and which fit into cradles 42 cut in the periphery of the torque reaction member i2. Projections it, which form the sides of the cradles 42, may enter slots 46 cut in the outer walls of the cylinders, as seen in Figure 3, in order to retain the cylinders in proper lateral position. One of the cylinders is provided with the usual inlet port (not shown) connected to a fluid pressure source, and the other is provided with a bleed port 68, the cylinders being interconnected by means of conduit 50. Reciprocable in each of the cylinders it is a tive shoe in order to apply pressure to the same when the vehicle operator creates a pressure in the fluid in cylinders 48. The pistons are provided with the usual sealing elements 54 and rub-- ber boots 88 for excluding dust, and are Preferably each formed with a slotted extension 58 which receives the inner edge of the respective shoe web.

Adjustment of the shoes to compensate for wear is accomplished by means of two adjustors 88 which may be formed .in accordance with the principles disclosed in the Goepfrich and House Patent Number 2,423,015, issued June 24, 1947, and which may butt against a pair of plates 82 secured to opposite sides of anchor projection I8.

,The adjustors 68 are retained against the edges of plates 82 by means of a spring 84.

In order that the brake effectivness may be somewhat greater when the vehicle is travelling forward than when it is moving in reverse, the cylinders 48 may, as shown, be located nearer one end of each shoe than the other. Thus, referring to Figure 1, when the vehicle is moving forward, the drum 24 is turning in a. counterclockwise direction.

Parking or auxiliary brake applying means are included in the brake assembly. A strut 66, which may be folded over as shown in Figure 4 to hold certain parts in alignment, is provided, as shown in Figure 6, with a nib 88 which projects into an opening I8 in the web of brake shoe 22. The other end of strut 88 is in pivotal contact with the end I2 of a lever I4 which is provided with a nib I8 extending into an opening I 8 formed in the web of shoe 28. A cable 88 is connected by means of an end enlargement 82 with the lower end 84of lever 14. A pull on the cable therefore acts through lever I4 and strut 66 to spread the ends of the shoes at the right side of the brake. as viewed in Figure 1, both shoes anchoring at the left side of the brake when applied by the mechanical means.

In the arrangement of Figures 7 to 18 inclusive, the plate-like torque reaction member I2 remains the same as in Figure 1, and the hydraulic cylinders 48 and their pistons also remain the same. In addition, the auxiliary or parking brake applying means may utilize an identical construction. However, the left ends of the shoes do not anchor against anchor projection I 6, as was the case in Figure 1. Instead (see Figure 8) the adiustors 68 are interconnected by means of a floating link member 86 which comprises a pair of plates 88 slidable along opposite sides of anchor projection I8 and a folded over retaining member 88 which holds plates 88 in assembly, said plates 88 having nibs 88 extending into depressions in the retaining member 88. Retaining member 88 is provided at each end with forks 82 which locate the shafts 84 of the adjustors 68.

From the preceding paragraph it is apparent that, after force has been applied to move the shoes 28 and 22 into contact with the brake drum, the well known wrapping action will cause the two shoes and link assembly 88 to move as a unit to anchor at one side or the other of anchor projection I8, depending upon the direction of drum rotation.

Since the left end of the shoes is not supported vertically by anchor projection l8 (Fig. 7), I provide an adjustable member for maintaining the vertical position of the shoes at the left side of the brake. This member may consist, as shown particularly in Figure 9, of an eccentric 88 mounted on a shaft 88 which is journaled in an opening I88 in torque reaction member I2 and in an opening I82 in cover plate 82. A look washer I84 acting between torque reaction member I2 and a flange I86 on shaft 88 serves to maintain the eccentric 88 in adjusted position. The outer end I88 of the shaft is adapted to enter an adjusting tool.

As in Figure 1, thewebs of the shoes shown in Figure 7 are preferably in the plane of the platelike supporting member I2 in order to avoid defiection or distortion of said supporting member due to the anchoring torque of the shoes.

The arrangement of Figures 11 to 13 inclusive is similar to that of Figures 7 to 10, except that the hydraulic applying cylinders 48 are omitted, and a mechanical applying structure is used which differs from the parking brake applying means of the preceding brake assemblies. The torque reaction member I2 may again be formed the same as in Figures land 7, thus making it possible to reduce tool and die costs in a plant where several of the different types of brake are manufactured. In Figure 11, the shoes 28 and 22 are arranged to shift as a unit and to anchor against anchor projection I8, in the same manner as in Figure 7.

The mechanical applying means includes a lever H8 which is pivoted to the web of shoe 28 by means of a pin I I2. Preferably the upper end of lever H8 is folded over as shown at H4 to provide a side portion H6 which is on the other side of the shoe web from the main body of lever H8, as seen in Figures 12 and 13. Side portion H6 of the lever is also pivoted on pin H2, the pin preferably having reduced diameter ends H8 serving as pivots for the two forks of the lever, thereby permitting the larger diameter center portion of the pin to be held in position between the lever forks. As shown in Figure 12, the distance between forks H6 and H8 of the lever widens out to embrance the two sides I28 and I22 of a link member which is formed by being folded over as shown at I24 and which is pivotally connected to the forks of lever H8 by means of a pin I26. The other end of the link is pivotally connected to shoe 22 by means of a pin I28, the Web of shoe 22 being embraced between forks I28 and I22 of the link as shown in Figure 13; Pin I 28 may be constructed similarly to pin I I2. The lower end of lever H8 is connected by means of member 82 with an actuating cable.

When force is exerted on lever H8 tending to rotate it in a clockwise direction, the lever, through pivot H2, exerts an outward force against shoe 28, and, through pivot I26, exerts a force on link I28, which in turn acts through piv- 0t I 28 to force the end of shoe- 22 against the brake drum. The lever and link mechanism has the effect of a toggle in spreading the brake shoes. The arrangement of the applying mechanism is such that the applying force against each of the shoes is balanced, in the sense that said force is exerted on both sides of the Web of each shoe through a pin which is pivotally connected 'at its center to the shoe web.

In Figure 14, the arrangement is the same as in Figure 11 except that the shoes -28 and 22 are permanently pivoted on the anchor projection I6. In order to accommodate the adjustors 68, a folded over member I38 may be secured to anchor projection I8. When the applying mechanism at the other side of the brake is actuated to spread the right ends of the shoes, the left ends .of the shoes pivot through the adjusters on member ill to apply in the manner of the conventional "non-servo" brake. In order to obtain maximum interchangeability, the torque reaction member I2, the return springs and the shoes may be identical with any of the preceding structures,

while the applying mechanism may correspond with that shown in Figure 11.

Figures to 17 inclusive show a brake assembly having individually shiftable shoes which are adapted to anchor at either end depending upon Iclaim: a

1. A brake structure comprising a plate-like torque reaction member secured to a ilxed part of the vehicle, said member having an anchor projection extending outwardly .irom its periphery at one point and having a depression formed in its periphery spaced from said projection; a T-section shoe arranged to engage said anchor projection, said shoe .being capable of sliding along the surface of the anchor projection, the web oi said shoe lying in the plane of the torque reaction member in order that the anchoring torque of the shoe will have no tendency to bend the torque reaction member or its anchor projection away from the normal plane, said torque reaction member having a plurality of oflset arms 15 to 17 comprises two shaft supporting members I32, one of which is supported in each of the cradles 42 provided in torque reaction member I2. A shaft I34 is journaled in a bushing I36 supported in the member I32 which is located at the right side of the brake assembly as seen in Figme 15. A bell crank lever is secured to the shaft I34, said lever comprising an arm I 36 which is pivotally connected by means of pin I40 to a rod I42, and an arm I44 which is bent into line with the shoe web and which is in contact with the inner end I46 of a strut member having a forked outer end I48 which embraces the web of shoe 22 and receives a pin I50 in a groove I52 formed in its outer surface. The pin I50 extends through the web of shoe 22, and therefore force exerted through the strut I46 will act to move shoe 22 outwardly into contact with the brake drum. Rod I42 is provided with a knob I54 which is retained on the rod by means of a nut I56 and which is received in the concavity I58 of an arm I60 which is secured to a shaft I62 journaled in bushing I64, which is mounted in the member I32 located at the left side of the brake assembly as seen in Figure 15. A protuberance I65 formed on lever I60 13 in contact with a strut I68, which corresponds to strut I46 at the opposite side of the brake, and which acts through pin I10 on the web of shoe 20. Fixed to shaft l62-at the end opposite arm IE0 is another arm I12 which is connected to an operator operated member, such as a cable.

From the above description, it will be obvious that force exerted tending to rotate the arm I72 will turn shaft I52 and also arm I60, moving the latter arm in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 15. This will cause a force to be exerted through strut I68 moving shoe 20 into contact with the brake drum. At the same time tension will be created in rod I42, thereby rotating arm I38 in a counterclockwise direction about shaft I34, exerting a. force through arm I44 of the bell crank lever and strut I46 to move shoe 22 outwardly against the brake drum.

' Although particular embodiments of my invention have been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the object of the invention may be attained by the use of constructions different in certain respects from those disclosed without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. I therefore desire by the following claims to include within the scope of my invention all such variations and modifications by which substantially the results of my invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

extending outwardly from its periphery to guide the shoe web, a cup-shaped hydraulic cylinder supported in the peripheral depression of the torque reaction member and having its axis extending substantially radially of the brake assembly, and a piston reciprocable in the cylinder and acting on the shoe'web intermediate its ends.

2. A brake structure comprising a plate-like torque reaction member secured to a fixed part of the vehicle, said member having two'diametrically arranged anchor projections extending outwardly from its periphery and two diametrically opposite-depressions formed in its periphery, two arcuate T-section shoes adapted to slidably anchor either at one end or the other on one of the anchor projections, the webs of said shoes lying in the plane of the torque reaction member in order that anchoring torque of the shoes will have no tendency to bend the torque reaction member or its anchor projections away from the normal plane, said torque reaction member having a plurality of ofiset arms extending outwardly from its periphery to guide the shoe webs, two cupshaped hydraulic cylinders each supported in one of the peripheral depressions oi the torque reaction member and having their axes extending substantially radially of the brake assembly, and a piston reciprocable in each cylinder and acting on the web of the respective shoe intermediate its ends.

3. A brake structure comprising a plate-like torque reaction member secured to a fixed part of the vehicle, said member having two diametrically arranged anchor projections extending outwardly from its periphery, two arcuate T-section shoes adapted to slidably anchor either at one end or the other on one of the anchor project-ions,

the webs of said shoes lying in the plane of the 4 action member adapted to be secured to a nonrotating member, two arcuate brake shoes carried by said torque reaction member, and each extending substantially one-half the circumference of the brake, two actuators supported by said torque reaction member, each arranged to exert a radially directed force on one of-the shoes at or near the center thereof, an additional actuator adapted to force apart the ends of the shoes 7 at one side of the brake, and adjusting means located diametrically opposite said additional actuator and adapted to change the retracted positionoi the shoes to take up the increased clearance caused by wear.

5. A brake comprising a plate-like torque reaction member adapted to be secured to a nonrotating member, two arcuate T-section brake shoes carried by said torque reaction member and each extending substantially one-half the circumierence or the brake, the web of said shoes lying in substantially the center plane of the torque reaction membenin order that the anchoring torque of the shoes will have no tendency to bend the torque reaction member, two actuators supported by said torque reaction member, each arranged to exert a radially directed force on one of the shoes at or near the center thereof,

an additional actuator adapted to force apart the ends of the shoes at one side oi the brake, and adjusting means located diametrically opposite said additional actuator and adapted to change the retracted position of the shoes to take up the increased clearance caused by wear.

6. A brake comprising a plate-like torque reaction member adapted to be secured to a nonrotating member, said torque reaction member having two diametrically opposed peripheral indentations, two arcuate T-section brake shoes carried by said torque reaction member and each extending substantially one-half the circumference of the brake, the webs 01 said shoes lying in the plane of the torque reaction member in order that the anchoring torque of the shoes will have no tendency to bend said member away from the normal plane, two cup-shaped hydraulic cylinders supported in the peripheral indentations 01' the torque reaction member and having axes extending substantially radially of the brake assembly, a piston reciprocable in each of said cylinders arranged to act on the web of the respective shoe at or near the center thereof, additional mechanical actuating means adapted to force apart the ends of the shoes at one side of the brake, and adj usting means located diametrically opposite said mechanical actuating means and adapted to change the released position of the shoes to take up the increased clearance caused by wear.

7. A brake structure comprising a plate-like torque reaction member secured to a fixed part of the vehicle, said member having an anchor projection extending outwardly from its periphery at one point and having a depression formed in its periphery spaced from said projection, a T- section shoe arranged to engage said anchor projection, said shoe being capable of sliding along the surface of the anchor projection, said torque reaction member having a plurality of offset arms extending outwardly from its periphery to guide the shoe web, a cup-shaped hydraulic cylinder supported in the peripheral depression of the torque reaction member and having its axis extending substantially radially of the brake assembly, and a piston reciprocable in the cylinder and acting on the shoeweb intermediate its ends.

8. A brake structure comprising a plate-like torque reaction member secured to a fixed part of the vehicle, said member having two diametrically arranged anchor projections extending outwardly from its periphery and two diametrically opposite depressions formed in its periphery, two arcuate T-section shoes adapted to slidably anchor either at one end or the other on one or the anchor: projections, said torque reaction member having a'plurality of offset arms extending outof the vehicle, said member having two diametri-- cally arranged anchor projections extending outwardly from its periphery, two arcuate T-section shoes adapted to slidably anchor either at one end or the other on one of the anchor projections, said torque reaction member having a plurality 0f offset arms extending outwardly from its periphery to guide the shoe webs, and means for simultaneously exerting a substantially radial applying force on the shoes at diametrically opposite points of the brake assembly and between the ends of the respective shoes.

10. A brake comprising a plate-like torque reaction member adapted to be secured to a nonrotating member, said torque reaction member having two diametrically opposed peripheral indentations, two arcuate T-section brake shoes carried by said torque reaction member and each extending substantially one-half the circumference of the brake, two cup-shaped hydraulic cylinders supported in the peripheral indentations of the torque reaction member and having axes extending substantially radially of the brake assembly, a piston reciprocable in each of said cylinders arranged to act on the web of the respective shoe at or near the center thereof, additional mechanical actuating means adapted to force apart the ends of the shoes at one side of the brake, and adjusting means located diametrically opposite said mechanical actuating means and adapted to change the released position of the shoes to take up the increased clearance caused by wear.

BRYAN E. HOUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,380 La Brie Mar. 5, 1940 2,245,682 Kerr June 17, 1941 2,324,979 Hatch July 20, 1943 

